Process for disintegrating metal



Y vifAliifi l I 3 472 g 5 Feb. 14, 1928.

E. J. HALL PROCESS FDR DISINTEGRA'ITING METAL Original Filed Dec, 20, 1917 NIH P0 6 5. J j w w Patented Feb. 14,

UNITED s'r' aras EVERETT 3'. HALL, OF PASSAIQ-NEW J'IBB IY, ASSIGNOB TO TALE .DIBIHTBGBA'IIIG COMPANY, INC.-, 01 NEW YORK, 11. Z, A CORPORATION 03 NEW YORK- PBOCESS FOR DISIN'IEGRATING METAL.

Application Med December 20, law/Serial No. 808,185. Renewed ooto'ber a0, 1028. Serial No; 888,011.

This invention relates to the disintegration or reduction of metals to finely divided condition, and the principal objects of the invention are to secure rapid and thorough I disintegration and uniform product.

In the attainment of these objects I make use of the atomizing principle, employn a jet or blast of steam or other suitable flu1 for breaking up the metal, which is in a molten state, and utilize this flow of disintegrating fluid also to produce an automatic feed of the stream of metal. Thorough disintegration is effected by directing the jet of disintegrating fluid on converging 18 lines upon the stream of molten metal, and

the additional suction desirable for more effectively feeding the metal is obtained by giving the jet a whirling or rotary motion,

wh1ch, further. aids in the disintegration.

to In the practical application of the invention, the molten metal issues from a nozzle and this nozzle is kept free of any accumula-' tion or clogging by causing the disintegrating" blast to strike the nozzle at a point in back of the nozzle orifice. As the rate of feed and consequent output is largely de-.

pendent upon the suction exerted by the disintegrating fluid, or the height of lift of the molten metal, I am able, by regulating these to factors, to control the production, both as to quantity and as to fineness of disintegration.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of means for carrying out the invention, wherein Figure 1 is a 5 front view of the nozzle and jet producing apparatus, the cover plate being broken away at one side; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, showing the connection with the tank holding the molten metal; 40 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 1 is an illustration of the jet rotating ring, showing it in front and edge views.

The metal to be reduced, such as zinc,

' aluminum, etc., is maintained in molten condition, within a suitable tank or holder 5, into which dips the pipe 6, leading to a passage 7 in the disintegrating head 8. Set in the forward side of the head and communim eating at its rear with supply passage 7, is the nozzle 9. This nozzle may have its outer surface tapered towards the end, as indicated at 10, the angle of this taper being determined by the suction required. Thus, the more acute the angle, the greater the suc- (in fact the nozzle, by its tion; and ,the more obtuse the angle, the less the suction. This variable factor of the outside taper of the nozzle makes possible a control of the suction independent of the control resulting from the regulation of the amount of disintegrating fluid or pressure, or that resulting from regulation of the molten metal level, or height of lift. It is often undesirable to lower the level of the metal, because to do so would result in loss of necessary heat to the nozzle.

The heat of the molten metal in the tank, located as it is immediately below the nozzle ipe extension, actually dips into the meta), is sufficient to keep the latter at the required temperature for most effective disintegration, and the relatively short passage provided for the metal from the tank to the nozzle prevents undue cooling of the metal during its travel.

The steam or other feeding and disintegrating fluid is supplied by a pipe 11, communicating with an annular chamber 12, surrounding the nozzle, said pipe entering the chamber tangentially as seen in Figure 3 so as to impart an initial rotation to the fluid. At the front of this expansion chamber 12, is a vane ring 13 havinginclined vanes or blades 14, on the rim thereof. This ring, it will be seen, allows the fluid to escape as a hollow rapidly'whirling jet and the jet is then condensed or brought down upon the metal-supplying nozzle by a cover plate 15 secured to the face of the head and preferably having a conical depression 16 on its inner face todirect the hollow column of fluid on converging lines into engagement with the nozzle at a point just in rear of the nozzle orifice, the condensed jet finally escaping through the annular jet orifice 17, surrounding the point of the nozzle, the end of the nozzle, as shown, extending appreciably beyondthe outer surface of the ca or plate 15.

The flow of disintegrating gas, strikin the stream of molten metal simultaneously tom all sides, as it does, and on 'conver ing lines, instantly breaks it up into the est particles, reducing it to a powder as fast as it appears at the mouth of the nozzle. This powder is collected as fast as it forms by a suction collecting device or other suitable collectin means. The concentrated convergent flow on the tapered point of the nozzle keeps the nozzle free and clear of any in feeding e ciency is compensated for bythe whirling movement imparted to the jet, the whirling vortex thus produced servm to feed the metal as fast as it is blown o the end of the nozzle.

As the rate of feed is de endent upon the degree of suction, I am ab e, by-controlling the flow of disintegrating gas, or the level of the molten metal in the susgllytank 5, to-

regulate the rate of feed an and fineness of reduction.

ence the rate That is, the

suction and heig t of lift determine the" amount of metal flowin providing the metal passage of the nozz e is not less than a certain mmimum, where friction must be considered. As the suction is dependent upon the amount of gas flowing, or pressure, a drop in gas pressure means a correspond ingly less amount of metal, thereby giving less capacity, but without impairment of quality, since the gas energy, though reduced, will still be ample for the disintegration of the reduced amount of metal. Thus I am enabled to use a nozzle with metal passage large enough to practically eliminate clo ging; and the control of metal flow depen s upon the height of the metal column (height 0 lift and on the amount of disintegrating fluid owing, or pressure. Less pressure of gas, or a lower level of molten metal in the tank means less metal at the nozzle; so that if the gas pressure or the molten metal level fall, no more metal is lifted than may be effectively disintegrated; and assuming a constant gas pressure, the fineness of disintegration may be controlled b varying the height of metal in the tank. Znd, as hereinbefore ointed out, by regulating the angle at whic the disintegratin fluid strikes the issuing metal I may vary t e suction without changing the gas pressure or height of lift.

The whirling motion of the jet, which may be rezlated in an obvious manner, is of further nefit in assisting in the suction or feeding, as well as in the disintegrating action. t increases the degree of vacuum at the tip of the nozzle, thus promoting the feed of metal; and by reason of the centrifugal force generated, back pressure is prevented and disintegration much increased, so that I am able to produce dust of extraordinary fineness and uniformity, and with a simple apparatus that requires but little attention in its operation, because ofits automatic mutually compensating controls. p

have used the term disintegrating gas sure fluid to vary the fineness of the herein as meaning an form of fluid suitable for the purpose, an it will be understood thatother expressions employed herein have likewise been used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The process of disintegrating metal or the like material which comprises striking a stream of molten metal or like material simultaneously and equally on all sides there 71 of and on convergent ang as with a rotating annular flow of disinte ating .2 2. The process of dismtegratmg metal or the like material which com rises striking a stream of molten metal or like material on U all sides thereof and -on converghent angles with a rotating annular flow of 'sintegrating gas, and varying the angles in accordance with the suction desired. 3. The method which consists in roviding a supply of molten metal or the material, locating a disinte ating nozzle above the level of the materi and dipping thereinto, causing fluid under pressure to pass in an annular rotating stream around the nozzle on convergent angles in a direction away from the level of material thereby to exert a suction within the nozzle and upon the supply of material, whereby material is lifted mm the supply and discharged through the nozzle, and causing the fluid as it leaves the nozzle to disinte ate the issuing material.

4. The metho which consists in providing a supply of molten metal or like material, locatmg a disinte ating nozzle above the level of the inateri and dipping thereinto, causing fluid under pressure to as in an annular rotating stream around e nozzle on convergent angles in a direction away from the leve of material thereby to exert a suction within the nozzle and upon the suply of material, whereby the material is ifted from the supply and discharged through the nozzle, causing the fluid as it leaves the nozzle to disintegrate the issuing material, and varying the normal level of the metal supply to regulate the fineness of disintegration.

5. The method of producing metal wder which consists in lifting molten meta or like 1] material from a supply thereof by means of fluid under pressure, disintegratin the inaterial so lifted by means of the flllld so lifting it, and varym the normal level of the material supply in ependently of variations of the level caused by the action of the res ting powder; .7

6. The method of producing metal powder which consists in lifting molten metal or like material by means of fluid under ressure, disintegrating the material so lifted b means of the fluid so lifting it, and control: ling the level of the material supply independently of variations of the level caused by the action of the pressure fluid, and the sides thereof and on convergent angles, with pressure of the fluid to varythe fineness of a rotating annular flow of disintegrating the resulting powder. fluid, and correlatively regulating the said 10 7. The process of disintegrating metal or angles and the pressure of the disintegrating 5 the like material which comprises striking a fluid, for the purpose set forth.

cylindrical stream of molten metal or like In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. material simultaneously and equally on all EVERETT J. HALL. 

